THE camps of Senate President, Dr Bukola
Saraki and that of former governor of Lagos
State, Senator Bola Tinubu, appear to be
playing a cat and mouse game, following the
appointment of a former chairman, Lagos State
Board of Internally Generated Revenue, Dr
William Babatunde Fowler, as the acting
Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue
Service (FIRS).
Fowler is to assume duty in acting capacity,
pending the confirmation of his appointment
by the Senate.
Fowler was appointed Chairman, Lagos State
Inland Revenue Service in 2005 by then
Governor Tinubu, a position he held till 2013.
It is believed that his achievements as head of
the Lagos State tax office, coupled with his
closeness to Senator Tinubu, got him the
nomination for the FIRS job.
However, the camps of two notable leaders of
the All Progressives Congress (APC) appeared at
loggerheads over Senate’s screening and
confirmation of the former Lagos taxman.
Fowler is regarded as Tinubu’s man, which is
making some loyalists of the ex-governor to
reach out, in view of the fear that some
senators were aware that Tinubu would need
the Senate under Saraki to confirm their
associates.
A senator said media reports in recent times,
which portray Saraki as kowtowing to Tinubu,
had not helped matters, as, according to them,
the APC leader needed Saraki more at this
time.
“Rather than Saraki eating the humble pie to
plead with Tinubu and others, it is the other
way round, but the media has portrayed things
otherwise,” a senator in the know had said.
Those loyal to the Tinubu’s camp are, however,
said to be mindful of the powers of the Senate
over nominees of the president, especially
going by the rejection of the last nominee to
the office under President Goodluck Jonathan,
Mrs Mfon Akpan from Akwa Ibom State.
The nominee was blocked from being
confirmed by senators of the Seventh
Assembly.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that some politicians
may fuel the anti-Fowler war because they see
the office of the FIRS chairman as strategic,
which should not be zoned to any politician.
Also, Nigerian Tribune gathered that, “the Like-
Mind Senators are particularly irked that while
Tinubu is the one who needs them for the
successful confirmation of his allies, who would
be named by the president, things are being
portrayed as if it is the Senate that needs him.”
Another senator said many pro-Saraki senators,
especially those that appended their signature
to the vote of confidence for Saraki, were
insisting on a payback time for Tinubu’s men.
The Tinubu loyalists, looking for ways to ease
the path of Fowler during screening, had
realised that they actually needed the Senate
President’s support.
“They can’t afford to fight him now,” a senator
told the Nigerian Tribune.
“There will be a lot of trade-off as we get to the
period of ministerial nomination and
confirmation hearings. What we do not like is
this idea of running with the hare and hunting
with the hounds. Those who need us for their
own interest, different from the interest of
President Buhari, are now making it look like
we need them,” one of the pro-Saraki senators
said.

Source: tribuneonlineng.com/fowler-pro-saraki-senators-ready-tinubu-ex-govs-loyalists-reach-out

hhhhmmmm

Wetin kwonsine me.

These senators are jokers. Was Fowler nominated by Tinubu or by Buhari? Rejection of Fowler's nomination is not a rejection of Tinubu but of Buhari.

Okay ..

They should just kill themselves abeg

This script is written to save face for Saraki and his posse after revelations that their demi-god was using behind the scene accessories to approach and beg for Jagaba's forgiveness. This is a twist to save face.

The truth is President Buhari is looking for people with competencies to run his cabinet and in the area of Taxation and Revenue generation, Lagos leads. The pioneer of that revenue model is Tinubu and Fowler was the driver. Therefore Fowler is taking to Buhari's cabinet and reproducing for the entire country what he accomplished for Lagos. Repeatedly President has said we must act as if we do not have oil, and seek alternative means of growing revenue. This is a good match between Lagos and Nigeria, President Buhari and Babatunde Fowler.

The President is sending Fowler to Senate for confirmation. If they like let them reject the candidate, and if they like they can accept him......how does it affect Jagaba who is not the one Presiding over Nigeria??

These like minded Senators are fools for thinking we are gullible and simple minded.

Besides, if they reject him the President have other powers he can invoke to put Fowler in the office and retain him in acting capacity for as long he wants. He can keep him in acting the whole 4years if its necessary to do so.

.

This senathieves are eeeediots with bolded pot belly/belle hating on any meaningful project/steps intended to move the nation forward

let the game of thrones continue

na wa for this fight. saraki is in power he would always have the upper hand tinubu just have to wait till 2019 to get whatever revenge he wants.

This shows the selfish nature of our senators. When will issue be put on and looked upon on the basis of its benefits to Nigeria and for Nigeria. When will we move above individual, tribal and selfish myopic interests.